Wimbledon Men’s Final: One for the ages

By James Borg

Monday, July 7, 2008 | 9:35 a.m.

LONDON –I remember way back in 1980 as a youngster sitting on Centre Court and reporting on the Final which went down in history as the most talked-about tennis match; and was hailed by most people as the best ever Wimbledon final. It was between John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg. This was the five set match that had "that tiebreak" in the fourth set – the one that has lived long in the memory for it's 18-16 scoreline. McEnroe won it. And he lost the match. This was the last of Borg's five wins (1976-1980) at Wimbledon. In his sixth consecutive final in 1981, McEnroe beat him.

Sunday's Final had remarkable parallels. Rafael Nadal up against defending champion Roger Federer playing in his sixth consecutive Final and playing against the man he'd beat in last two finals here – last year's being a five-set thriller. Both had a chance to make Wimbledon history.

Federer was trying to beat Bjorn Borg's record of five consecutive titles, which he equaled last year. Rafael Nadal was trying to do something that only Borg had done, the last time being 1980 - win the French Open and Wimbledon titles back to back. So both men had a lot at stake here.

Sunday's match is now being spoken of in the same breath as the McEnroe and Borg Final of 1980 with many calling it the greatest match ever witnessed here in the history of Wimbledon and certainly the most dramatic final. Grueling. Emotionally draining. Exhausting. Nerve-wracking. That was just for the spectators watching. What about the two players?

It was Rafael Nadal who at 9:16 p.m. on a gloomy, blustery and light-starved Centre Court fell to the ground on his back from the sheer relief and disbelief that he'd deposed the defending champion and was now not only the King of clay, but also the King of grass. The 22 year old Spaniard fought off an amazing fight back from the world No 1 in this epic encounter as the scoreline shows: 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-7 9-7.

He took the opening set with a single service break, 6-4. In the second set he recovered from a 1-4 deficit and ran away with a two set lead which had Federer looking rattled and nervy - understandably. But how he did it is a wonder. Serving at 5-4 and 30-30 he was bouncing the ball in readiness for his serve when the umpire gave him a warning for taking too much time. The crowd were as astonished as the player. Not a good time to admonish someone. A word in the ear at changeover would probably have sufficed. The point is: in the mental game of tennis, this would have affected many mortals at such a crucial point of the game. Nadal then went on to survive a break point for Federer to take the second set 6-4.

The third set was played in gloomy conditions with the light being very poor and the wind was playing havoc with the players' shots. Break points came and went for Federer who got to a position of 5-4 up, on serve. Then came the rain. Rain breaks -- according to good old-fashioned Wimbledon folklore – often help the person who is down. Can it just be folklore? After an 81 minute break Federer took the third set in a tense tiebreak, with the help of four aces. There was nothing his opponent could do. Federer was now in the match. Not that he wasn't before. This match was unique in that from the first point that was struck, the match was a spectacle of minute-by-minute of wondrous shot making from both players: especially Nadal. He is one of the few rare players that can turn defense into attack. He could probably crack rocks with his forehand.

The fourth set like the preceding three was full of breathtaking shots by both men as they veered towards another tiebreak. The court was resonating with football-like chants of "Roger Roger" and "Rafa Rafa". It's a long time since we've witnessed the intensity of crowd involvement that was present in this match. All credit to the two players. Nadal was now up 5-2 in the tiebreak. It looked as though the champion was going to lose his stranglehold on the winner's trophy within a few minutes. Federer stormed ahead and held a set point at 6-5 but hit a loose forehand into the tramlines. The first Championship point for Nadal at 7-6 was blown away by an ace from Federer. At 7-7 Nadal came up with a spectacular forehand winner down the line to set him up 8-7. A backhand winner down the line from Federer robbed him of his second Championship point and eventually Federer took the tiebreak 10-8 after Nadal hit a long return.

At 2-2 and deuce the rain returned. The score was dead level at that point. After half an hour they were back on court. Nadal snatched a crucial break at 7-7 after Federer hit a forehand long. He served for the match in the next game. On Nadal's fourth match point the sight of Federer's return in the net was enough to send the talented 22 year old on his back. After wiping away the tears after 4 hours and 48 minutes of play - the longest ever men's Final in history - he climbed up to the stands to embrace his mum, dad and uncle, walked across the roof of the commentary boxes to get to the Royal Box where he shook the hand of Spain's crown prince and his wife. Close by in the box was the last Wimbledon champion from Spain, Manuel Santana who won the title in 1966.

After the match Federer was slightly lost for words, due no doubt to his intense disappointment, but he said: " I tried everything. But, look, Rafa's a deserving champion. I played the worst player on the best court."

Nadal was ever polite and ecstatic at the same time: " It's a dream to play on this court in my favorite tournament, but I never imagined that I would win here. I am very happy."

Bjorn Borg was watching from the front row of the Royal Box with his wife as a proud Rafa posed with the Singles trophy for the photographers in the darkness. Before the tournament he had predicted Nadal to be the winner. For the second year in a row his achievements have been equaled here at Wimbledon. A Federer win would have broken his record. His history is safe. Wimbledon's history continues.

James Borg, a freelance journalist, has covered the All-England Lawn Tennis Championships for 31 years. He spent a few months in Las Vegas and did work for Caesars Palace. He lives in London and is going on vacation after two weeks of covering tennis.